Automobile-tractor.



W. H. ZHVIMERMAN.

AUTOMOBILE TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MARSH-1913.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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W. H. ZIMMERIVIAN. AUTOMOBILE TRACTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. I913.

ALIIIIII SHEET 3.

illllll; @W I i Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

3 SHEETS llllll W LTER, H; ZIMMERMAN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BYMENE ASSIGNMENTS, To AUTO TRACTOR coMPANY,,oT.1vILES, MICHIGAN,A-COBPORATION or MICHIGAN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER H. ZIMM R- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and Improved Automobile-Tractor,of which-the following is a full, -clear, conc1se, and exactdescription, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved form of tractor mechanism by whichan automo bike is used as a source of power for driv ing the tractormechanlsm, which mechanismis mounted upon a frame adapted to betemporarily attached to the automobile.

- The present application is an improvement on my copending application,Serial No. 643,826, and amongthe more prominent objects of my presentinvention are providing two driving ratios between the gears conv nectedwith the automobile wheels and; the driving wheels of the tractormechanism,

either of which ratios may. be employed as desired by the operation of aclutch mechanism particularly adapted to accomplish the result, and inproviding mechanism. for quickly and securely locating the automobileinplace upon the tractor frame, and, further, in providing auxiliaryradiatingmechanism for "the cooling water of the automobile engine, sothat the slower speed of the device is compensated for by increasedradiating capacity;

The above and other features of my invention will best be understood byreference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows in planview the tractor mechanism, a part of the main driving wheels. beingbroken away to more *clearly H illustrate the gearing contained therein.

Fig. 2 shows the tractor mechanism-'illus trated in Fig. 1 in verticalsection taken shown in Fig. 3, taken'along the line.4--4. '1

. Fig; 5 is a detail sectional view of clutch mechanism employed. fordriving a power shaft carried by'the tractor frame- Specification ofLetters Patent.

ating the clutch pins indicated in Figs. 6, 7

Patented Aug. 14, 1917. Application filed March 31, 1913. Serial No.757,803.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal Sectional View through the main shaft of thetractor mechanism, showing the gears employed and the clutch mechanismin position for the slow driving speed.

. Fig. 7 shows a plan view and a partly horizontal section through theclutch pins, the clutch being shown in the neutral posi-. tion with bothtraction driving gears disengaged. Fig. Sis a view similar. to Figs. 6and 7 showing the clutch mechanism moved to its fast driving speedposition.

Fig. 9. shows the cam employed for operand 8.

.Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional View shewing one of the clutch pinsand itsf relations to its operating cam surface.

F1g..11 is a diagrammatic view showing the auxiliary radiator,circulating pump, storage tank and necessary piping and hose connectionsand valves auxiliary cooling system in series with the cooling system ofthe automobile. v

Fig. 12 shows in plan View the means employed for driving an auxiliaryfan used for connecting the in connection with the auxiliary radiator,

and also an auxiliary water pump for cir- .culating the water.

Fig. 13 shows the auxiliary fanand pump in elevation to more clearlyshow the fan driving mechanism.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As'shown in F-ig s. 1 and 2, the tractor] frame consists of two sidegirders each of.

which consists of a web-plate 1 having upper and lower flange angle-bars2 and 3 riveted thereto. These girders are of increasing depth as therear' end of the tractor frame is approached, since the bulk of thestrain comes at this portion of the mecha-' nism. Near the rear end ofthe girder, stiff- .ening angle-bars 4 areriveted across the web-plates,and at the extreme rear end stiffening angle-bars 5 are similarlysecured.

The angle-bars 4 are bent at their upper ends so as to extendhorizontally to constitute the top flanges 4 of the rear end of thegirders and these portions 4 support the main shaft 6 by means of metalblocks 7 i bolted thereto. The shaft 6 is securely held in position bycaps 8 as indicated and prevented from rotation by means of suitablekeys. which engage the supporting blocks, as indicated in Fig. 2. Theportions 4 of the angle bars also support in suitable bearings a powershaft 9 for a purpose to be descrlbed.

The shaft 6 has rigidly mounted upon it near each end a double-arm 10which is provided with a hub keyed to the shaft and.

around these hubs and the ends of the shaft the hubs of the main drivingwheels 11 are rotatably supported. The main driving wheels 11 of thetractor are held in place on the shaft 6 by washers and cap screws, asindicated at 12 in Fig. 6. As shown more clearly in Fig. 6, the doublearm 10 supports at each end a stud 13 upon which a double gear 14 isrotatably mounted, being held in place by washers and cap screws, asindicated. The larger gear of each of the double gears 14 meshes with agear 15 loosely mounted upon the shaft 6 just inside of the double arm10. Just inside of the gear 15, a large gear 16 is rotatably mountedupon the shaft 6, the outer end of the hub of which is turned down toconstitute a bearing for rotatably supporting a gear 17 in mesh with thesmaller gear of each double gear '14. The other end of the hub of thegear 16 has mounted upon it a cam member 18 provided with operatinghandles 19, as shown in Fig. 9, by which the cam member may be rotatedupon the shaft 6 relatively to the gear 16, as a result of which theclutch pins 20 or the clutch pins 21 may be withdrawn into thehub of thegear-16', as desired. The construction of the, cam member'18 is such, asshown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, that when, the clutch pins 20 arewithdrawn into the hub of the gear 16, the

clutch pins 21 are freed so that their springs may force them intocooperating holes in the: gear 15, for which condition rotation of a thegear 16 will cause rotation of the gear 15 and thus, by the relationbetween the gear 15 and the larger gear of each double gear 14, willrotate both of said double gears. When the clutch member 18 is rotatedso as to move the clutch'pins '21 into the hub of the gear 16 and freethe'clutch pins "20, so that their springs may project them intocoiiperating holes in the gear 17 rotation of the gear 16 causescorresponding rotation of the gear17 and thus, through the engagementbetween it and the smaller gear of each of the double gears 14, causesrotation of the double gears 14 at a definite ra-' tio. The cam member18 is so designed that there is a delay surface between the .two.conditions just referred to, so that by turning the cam member to itsmid position both sets of clutch pins are withdrawn into the hub of thegear 16, thus freeing both the gear 15 and the gear 17 for which'condition the tractor mechanism will not be driven. The relation of oneof the clutch pins 20 to the hub of the gear 16 and the gear 17, as wellas to the cam member 18, is better shown in Fig. 10. The position of theparts shown in Fig. 6 is that for which the clutch pins 21 are inoperating engagement with the gear 15, while the gear 17 is free torotate upon the gear 16. The relation of parts in Fig. 8 is the reverse,that is, the clutch pins 20 are in engagement with the gear 17 and thegear 15 is free to rotate relatively to the gear 16. The relation of theparts in Fig. 7 shows both sets of clutch pins withdrawn into the hub ofthe gear 16, as a result of of the power devices carried by theautomobile will rotate the gears 16 and thus, by

means of. the gear trains above referred to, the internal gears 25 andthe main wheels 11 of the tractor mechanism. Each internal gear 25 issupported from the rim of the corresponding tractor wheel 11 by brackets26 secured at their ends to the rim of the tractor wheel, while theircentral portions are pivotally secured to lugs extending outward fromthe internal gear 25. This construction facilitates some play of the rimof the tractor wheel relatively to the internal gear, as a result ofwhich if the rim which has. some flexibility should strike a stone, theslight change in conformation temporarily resulting in the rim willproduce no apparent change in the conformation of the internal gear 25,as a result of which it is in position at all times to operate properly.The rim of each wheel is provided with spikes 27 which may beremoved byundoing thenuts inside of the rim threaded upon the innerends of saidspikes, so that the driving wheels may .be equipped, if desired, forsoft ground by placing the spikes in position, or when the ground ishard or for use on the road the spikes may be removed. Furthermore, the

number of spikes employed may be varied 7 for different conditions, sothat the required amount of traction may be secured.

Each driving pinion 22, as shown in Figs.

3 and 4, is spaced the proper distance from the automobile wheel 23 bymeans of the spider 28, which is fastened to it by means of screws 22*.The spider surrounds the end of the corresponding automobile wheelhub 31and'is provided with lugs 29, engaging the sides of the rivet or boltheads used in the construction of the automobile wheel.

-imum driving effect represented by the strength of all of the rivetsemployed in the automobile wheel .may be transmitted to the pinion withcomparatively little strainon the cap used to hold it in place. The"pe-' riphery of the spider 28 forms a drum which is used in mountingthe automobile upon the tractor frame, as follows: The front end of thetractor is placed upon the ground and the automobile is backed astraddleof the frame until the saddles 32 clamped to the auto axle 39 touch thetop angle-bars 2 of the girders of the frame. The ropes 46 are fastenedto the spiders 28 and the draw=bar 10( by means'of hooks and theautomobile is continued in its backward motion until the rear wheels 23begin ,to revolve free of the ground causing the ropes 46 to be wound onthe periphery of the said spiders 28, thus moving theautomobilebackward'bodily on the top of the girders to a position justback of the forward position of the'clamp arms 36, which clamp arms arepivoted to the web plates 1 at 37 and provided at their upper ends withhooks 38 for engaging the saddles 32. a

Then, the forward end of the girders is raised by a jack, or otherwise,until the sup-f porting angle-bar 42 is above the rearwardly extendinghorizontal flange 43 secured to the front axle 44 of the automobile.

The clamp arms'36 are operated mechanically by the clamp screws 34,which clamp screws screw into the clamp arm clevises 35 pivotallyconnected at their forward ends with the clamp arms 36. Thus, the clampscrews 34, being formed into cranks at 33 and held in stationaryrotating'position by sleeves bearing against the members 5 of the frameand the crank arm, can be rotated in a clockwise and a counter-clockwisedirection. For rotation of the clamp screws 34 in a direction to unscrewthem, the mechanical movement in the clamp screw clevises 35 operatingpivotally on the clamp arms 36 'forcesthe sald clamp arms to a positionbelow the angle bars 2 of the. girders. The clamp arms 36 in thisposition allow the saddles 32 to slide on th'e angle-bars 2 until thesaid saddles reach a point, where by rotating the clamp screws 34 in theopposite direction, the clamp arms 36 appear above the angle-bars 2 ofthe girders just in front of the saddles. Continuing {this rotation,"

the hooks 38 of the clamp arms 36 are brought in contact with the saidsaddles 32,

as seen in Fig. 2, and draw the automobile the flange 43 and the pin 45is then inserted as indicated. The central position of this pinrelatively to the axle 44 permits considerable motion of the frontaxleiin a vertical. plane out of parallelism with the rear axle of thetractor without causing unequal division of the weight carried by theautomobile axle 44. ;When it is desired'to remove the automobile fromthe tractor frame, the

reverse of the above-described operation is performed, the pin 45 beingfirst removed, the clamp arms 36 being then swung forward below the topof the frame girders and, by means of the ropes around the spiders 28,

as shown at 46 in.Figl 1, the automobile is moved forward-on the tractorframe until the Wheels 23 rest iipon, the ground. The draw-bar 1 00 isprovided with a plurality of holes 101, towhich various implements to bedrawn by the tractor may be attached'and, furthermore, these holes areso disposed along the length of the draW bar 100, which extendstransverselyacross the rear end of the tractor frame, that severalimplement-s may .be connected to the drawbar at the same time, each bymeans of its individual connection so that each implement-may beattachedin accordance with its particular needs. j The draw-bar 100 isse-. cured by'bolts to the stiffening angle-bars 5 on the rear ends ofthe web-plates 1 of the said girders of the tractor frame, as

shown in Fig.2, and a plurality of holes is formed in the outstandingleg of each of the angle-bars 5 so that the draw-bar 100 may, be movedvertically to meet different operating conditions.

The shaft 9 'mounted upon the rear end of the tractor frame has rigidlysecured thereto between its bearings 47 a pulley 48, by means ofwhichariv desired machinery may be driven. Each end of the shaft 9 hasmounted thereon a gear 49 keyed-upon.

thereon, but that it is incapable of rotation relatively thereto. Therelation of each of so that the end of the bolt is clear of the shaft 9.For this position, the gear 49 may the shaft so thatit may movelongitudinally be moved longitudinally on .the shaft" so that-the boltenters either the hole" 52 or the hole 53. When the bolt is in the hole"52, the gear 49 is out of mesh with its drivingmechanism on the ground,since the cam,

members 18 can be moved to their mid position, entirely freeing thegears 15 and 17 By the construction above described, I

have provided a mechanism such that a tractor of considerable weight maybe moved at relatively slow speed over the ground While the drivingmachinery of the automobile is moving at relatively fast speed,depending upon the gear ratio and, moreover, for this condition the workdone by the automobile engine may be as great as when the automobile istraveling over the ground at faster speed, since the slower speed of thetractor mechanism may be compensated for by an increased pull resultingfrom the heavy loads that are being drawn. For this condition, I havefound it desirable to increase the radiating capacity of the machine asa whole, so that the cooling water employed in the automobile engine maybe more effectively cooled than is possible for the'slow speed at whichthe machine is moving through the air, for obviously the amount of heatthat must be radiated from the cooling water is as great as though theautomobile were traveling through the air at high speed, but owing tothe slow speed of the tractor mechanism over the ground the coolingeffect of the automobile radiator is lost in large deree. ide anauxiliary radiator 54, mounted upon the rear end of the tractor frame,and a water supply tank 55, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and. 11.

At 56 I have shoWn the main radiator with which the automobile isequipped.

lVhen the automobile is used independently of the tractor mechanism, thewater in the radiator 56 is drawn through pipe 57 into pump 58 and isforced through pipe 59 into the water jackets with which the cylindersof the engine 60 are provided. The water is then. conducted from ,saidwater jackets tape from the associated water containers but prevent theentrance of air. The radiator 54 is provided with a drain cock 64, asshown.

Entering the radiator 54 at the top there- To compensate for this loss,I pro- 55 in the water cooling system.

respectively with pipes 66 and 65.

of, is a pipe 65, which as will presently be explained, is adapted to beconnected with the pipe 61 of the automobile cooling equipment. Enteringthe tank 55 near the bottom thereof, is a pipe 66 which also may beconnected with the auto cooling equipment. Interposed inthis pipe is apump 67. Interposed in 'pipe 61 are a pair of valves 68 and 69 whichhave connected thereto a pair of flexible tubes 70 and 71. Each of thesevalves when in one position allows communication between its associatedflexible tube and the pipe 61, and when in another position cuts offsuch communication. When both valves are in the first positionmentioned, communication between the valves is cut off. 7 v

The top of the radiator 54 and the top of the tank55 are connectedtogether by a pipe 102 in which there is placed a valve 103. The pipe 65has located therein between the connection of the pipe 102 and theradiator 54 a valve 104. The pipe 66 is connected with the pipe 62 bymeans of a pipe 105 in which there is located a valve 106 and betweenthe connections of the pipe 105 and the tank 55 there are located in thepipes 62 and 66 valves 107 and 108, respectively. By means of theconnections and valves just described, it will appear that either the radiator 54 or the tank 55 may be connected in the water cooling system.or both mav be connected therein, if desired. For example, if it isdesired to use the radiator 54 alone, the valves 103, 107 and 108 areclosed and the valves 104 and 106 are opened, thus allowing freecirculation of the water through the radiator 54 without including thetank lVhen it is desired to include the tank 55 in the water coolingsystem without including the radiator 54, the valves 103 and 108 areopened and the valves 104, 106 and 107 are closed, thusallowing thewater to circulate freely through the tank 55 and cutting offcommunication with the radiator 54. When both the radiator 54 and thetank '55 are used, the valves 103 and 106 are closed and the valves 104,1 7 and 108 are opened. This arrangement is particularly convenient forincluding in the water cooling system as much of the radiating surfaceof the radiator 54 and the tank 55 as desired, for it is"ap-' parentthat more radiating surface is required in warm weather than is requiredin cold weather and. further, that more radiating surface is requiredfor a heavy load than is required for a light load. These valves andconnections also afford the opportunity of cutting out of service-eitherthe radiator 54 or the tank 55 for purposes of repair, if necessary.

The flexible tubes and T1 are connected Assuming that the valves 68 and69 are in the first position mentioned above and all connections betweenthe auto and the tractor mechanism are as illustrated, water is drawn bypump 67 through pipe 66 and forced through pipe 7 into the radiator 56,from which it passes through pipe 57 pump 58 and pipe 59 to the waterjackets of the engine and from there into pipe 61. From pipe 61 thewater passes through valve 68, tube 71 and pipe 65, to the auxiliaryradiator which, in turn, is connected to the tank 55. From the abovedescription, it will be noted that alarge supply of cooling water isalways available.

In order to effectively cool the water in the auxiliary radiator 54, anauxiliary fan 72 is mounted in front of the radiator, as

shown in Fig. 1, in a bearing supported-by the shaft 6, and the frontend of the shaft 73 supporting and driving the auxiliary fan 72, carriesa belt pulley 7 4, driven by a belt 75 extending over guide pulleys 76and 77, and around a driving pulley 78 connected to one end of a shaft79, which also has rigidly mounted thereon a sprocket wheel 80, which isdriven by means of a chain 81, from a' sprocket wheel carried by shaft82. The shaft 82 is provided with a gear wheel 83, which meshes with andis driven by one of the gears 16 of the tractor mechanism. The pump 67is operatively connected with shaft 79 which is driven through chain 81,

While I have shown my'invention in the particular embodiments hereindescribed, I donot, however, limit myself to these constructions, as Imay use any "equivalent constructions without departing from the spiritof my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an automobile tractor, the combination of a frameworkforsupportingin part an automobile, tractor wheels carried by theframework, two trains of gearing of different ratio between the drivingwheels of the automobile .when in place on the frame and the tractorwheels, clutch pins for connectmg either driving train as desired, and arotary cam mechanism for operating the clutch pins.

2. In an automobile tractor, the combination of a framework forsupporting in part an automobile, tractor wheels carried by theframework, two trains of gearing of different ratio between the drivingwheels of the automobile when in place on the frame and the tractorwheels, and clutch mechamsm for operatively connecting either gear tramas desired.

3. In an automobile vtractor, the combination of a framework forsupporting in part an automobile, tractor wheels carried by theframework, two trains of gearing of different ratio between the drivingwheels of the automobile when in place on theframe and the tractorwheels, a shaft rotatably mounted upon the frame, a pulley secured tothe shaft, a gear for connecting the shaft with the gearing between thesaid driving wheels and the tractor wheels, and clutch mechanism foroperatively connecting either train of gearing between the said drivingwheels and the tractor wheels, said clutch mechanism adapted to renderboth trains inoperative to drive the tractor wheels when the shaft isconnected with said gearm v i. In an automobile tractor, the combinationof a frame. for supporting the rear end of an automobile, a fixed shaftsecured to the frame, tractor wheels rotatably mounted on the shaft forsupporting the frame, a main gear rotatably mounted on the shaft at theside of one of the tractor wheels, said gear adapted to mesh with apinion carried by one of the driving wheels of the automobile when inplace on the tractor frame, an internal gear carried by thecorresponding tractor wheel, a reducing train of gearing between themain gear and the internal gear, .a clutch pin or pins extending throughthe hub of the main gear for operatively connecting or for disconnectingthe reducing train of gearing as desired, and cam mechaside of one ofthe tractor wheels, said gear adapted to mesh with a pinion carried byone of the driving wheels of the automobile ,when in place on thetractorframe, an internal gear carried by the corresponding tractor wheel, tworeducing trains of gear ing of different ratio between the main gear,and the internal gear, a clutch pin or pins extending through the hub ofthe main gear for each of said reducing trains of gearing foroperatively connecting it or disconnecting it as desired, andcammechanism. for moving the clutch pins into engaged or dis engagedposition so as to connect either train ofgearing and at .the same timedisconnect the other train of gearing or to discon- V nect both trainsof gearing as desired.

' 6. In an automobile tractor, the combina tion of a frame forsupporting the rear end of an automobile, a fixed shaft secured to theframe, tractor wheels rotatably mounted on the shaft for supporting theframe, a main gear rotatably mounted onthe shaft at the side of one ofthe tractor wheels, said gear adapted to mesh with a pinion carried byone of the driving wheels of the automobile when in place on the tractorframe, an internal gear carried by'the corresponding .tractor wheel, areducing trainof gearing gear or gears when in driving position being inengagement with said main gear.

7. In an automobile tractor, the combination of a frame for supportingthe rear end of an automobile, levers pivoted to the frame for movingthe rear axle of the automobile longitudinally on the frame, threadedclevises connected with the levers, threaded rods engaging the clevises,and cranks carried by the rods to rotate the same to operate the levers.

8. In an automobile tractor, the combination of a frame for supportingthe rear end of an automobile, saddle blocks slidably mounted upon thetop of the frame for en? gaging the rear axle of an automobile, anddevices carried by the frame for engaging the saddle blocks and movingthem longitudinally of the frame toward the rear end of the automobile,so that its rear wheels are off the ground.

9. In an automobile tractor, the combination of a frame adapted tosupport the rear end of an automobile, a supporting. device secured tothe front axle of the automobile, and a yielding connection between thesaid device and the front end of the frame to support the front end ofthe frame and permit the front axle of the automobile to move about saidconnection in a vertical plane without corresponding motion of theframe.

10. In an automobile tractor, the combination of a frame for supportingthe rear 11. In an automobile tractor, the combination of a frame forsupporting the rear end of an automobile, a shaft secured to the frame,tractor wheels mounted on the shaft for supporting the frame, a maingear mounted at the side of one of the tractor wheels, said gear adaptedto mesh with a pinion carried by one of the driving wheels of theautomobile when in place on the .tractorframe, an internal gear carriedby the corresponding tractor Wheel, and two reducing trains of gearingof different ratio between the main gear and the internal ear. g 12. Inan automobile tractor, the combination of a frame for supporting therear end of an automobile, a fixed shaft secured to the frame, tractorwheels rotatably mounted on the shaft for supporting the frame, a maingear rotatably mounted on the shaft at the side of one of the tractorwheels, said gear adapted to mesh with a pinion carried by one of thedriving wheels of the automobile when in .place on the tractor frame, aninternal gear carried by the corresponding tractor wheel,two reducingtrains of gearing of different ratio between the main gear and theinternal gear, and mechanism for operatively connecting either reducingtrain as desired.

'13. In an automobile tractor, the combination of a frame for supportingthe rear end of" an automobile, a cable drum or drums carried by theautomobile to be carried by the frame, and a cable extending fromthedrum to the frame'to move the automobile on the frame by rotation of theWitnesses:

ALBERT C. BELL, LESLIE W. FRIOKE.

WALTER H. ZIMMERMAN. Y

